First post and a question on Sebenza scales

A

area965

Joined
Oct 3, 2011
Messages
32
Hello Everyone,

I am new to the forum (1st post) but have been interested in the knives since I was a kid. I did not pay much attention to knives until recently as I have quite a few hobbies to keep me busy + work and family.

I've found out about Chris Reeve knives and the Sebenzas recently and love it. I picked up a small user regular about a month ago and have been reading this forum quite a bit. I hope to learn a lot more about these knives from you guys.

I do have a question I would like like to ask.

The regular that I've got comes with a carbon fiber scale and the orginal scale (front side). I am currently using the carboon fiber scale because I love carbon fiber and it is very light, the whole knife is 2.3 oz. I've seen some modified scales on here and love the look of the scalop style (Anso) variations.

How valuable is the original titantium scale? I am asking because I would like to modify it and don't want to mess it up if it is valuable. I am fairly handly with handtools and love spend time working with my hands.

Appreciate any help.

Thanks and happy holidays,

Sonny
 
Practice on some G10 first...but wear a painters mask! G10 dusk is highly toxic...take care.
But, if you have the tools to make the titanium look good, then go for it. But just remember if you screw up, you might as well throw that titanium away if you can't fix it.
 
Hello There and Welcome To Bladeforums, especially the CRK Forum Page.........I would estimate a small regular titanium scale to be worth at least $125 if not more. CRK does not have any more as they were discontinued and only keep a few on hand for warranty work, not for resale. So make sure you are careful should you decide to modify it. Also, any scale that is modified voids the CRK Warranty, so you would not be able to get warranty work down the road should you ever need it. Not trying to scare you away, just a few things to think about before you dive in.

CRK can do custom engraving if that interests you and fellow forum member Barry H does amazing work, with G10, Carbon Fiber, & Titanium.

Enjoy !
 
Welcome. The value of the titanium scale probably depends a lot on whether what you have is a "plain" or a "regular." Because the regular has been out of production for several years and is still actively sought after by a significant number of CRK users, it is probably a good bit more valuable than a plain scale. The knife on the top in the picture linked below is a plain Sebenza, and the one on the bottom is a regular.

http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/4401/classicstandardsmallsebgm3.jpg
 
Thank you for the welcome.

I have a small "regular" and the box says it has a swedge on the blade.

If the front scale of a small regular is valuable, I will probably will not touch it. It is in used condition but with no deep scratch. When I get something I always like to make it "mine", sort of put my signature on it.

I am still debating if I should send it in for double thumb lugs or not as I am left handed and this is right handed knife. Do I understand it correctly that when you send the knife back (with original scale put back on) for some work, the re-sharpening is free?

Thank you for any insights,

Sonny
 
Hi and welcome to the forum. Since it's a regular I would leave the original scales original. But if I had the experience with mods and time to do it I thought about getting different materials and making several scales. G10, Micarta, carbon fiber, or stabilized wood, might all work. A cool way to make it yours while leaving the value of the original in tact.
A friend of mine has a laser cutter and I've thought about trying it.
I thought about getting someone that can cut aluminum to make me a couple of scales so I could mod them and not mess with the original knife. Similar look, the ability to be anodized, and similar weight.
Since I have so many other things going on that's not likely to happen so the scratches it gets from EDC will just have to make it mine. :)
Good luck with your project. Whatever you decide to do.

And yeah, the basic spa treatment, sharpening, cleaning and so on only costs shipping.
 
I would keep the scale(as is), for warranty reasons and since it can't be easily replaced.
Yes they do sharpening for free-only charge for the return shipping($14) and for $30+ shipping you can have it re-bead blasted.
Small regular with swedge-cool knife
 
A consideration on double-lugs, if it has a BG-42 blade: it is not impossible for the blade to crack from the lug hole to the spine when re-lugged. It's rare, but it does happen, and there was a case in which that happened very recently. The other consideration is that the "off-side" scale will have to be relieved slightly for access to the thumb lug added on that side, and the scales will have to be refinished. I had this all done to a 1997 regular last year and the work CRK did was wonderful, but it does modify the knife a lot and IMO the double-lug doesn't work all that well on a small because there's just not a whole lot of access to the off-side lug even after the mods. It's a coin-toss, IMO...YMMV...etc. ;)
 
JNewell said:
A consideration on double-lugs, if it has a BG-42 blade: it is not impossible for the blade to crack from the lug hole to the spine when re-lugged. It's rare, but it does happen, and there was a case in which that happened very recently. The other consideration is that the "off-side" scale will have to be relieved slightly for access to the thumb lug added on that side, and the scales will have to be refinished. I had this all done to a 1997 regular last year and the work CRK did was wonderful, but it does modify the knife a lot and IMO the double-lug doesn't work all that well on a small because there's just not a whole lot of access to the off-side lug even after the mods. It's a coin-toss, IMO...YMMV...etc. ;)
Click to expand...

Does anyone have a picture of the small regular with a double thumb lugs? I would like to see some pictures if possible.

Is it possible to have the double thumb lugs done without refinish the scales? I really like the well used patina of my original scales.

Also, if while at CRK for the thumb lugs and the blade cracked, will CRK replace it with a new blade of the same style (under warranty)? I don't want to risk it as I really like the profile of this small regular with a the swedge on it. As I understand it, you can't just buy one from CRK anymore.

I will definitely keep the original scales as they are.

Barry H, I love all of the scales you did on the Sebenzas and some other. I went through most of your album pictures and saved a few. Thank you.

Thanks and appreciated,

Sonny
 
I have a small Regular that I had DL'd. I'll see if I can find some pix.

No, it is not possible to have the DL added without refinishing the scales. CRK told me that they won't DL the Regulars without relieving the lockbar and that requires refinishing.

Ask CRK for certainty, but if the blade cracks it will be replaced for free with an S30V blade. They haven't had replacement BG-42 blades for years, so that's the only option if there's a problem.

area965 said:
Does anyone have a picture of the small regular with a double thumb lugs? I would like to see some pictures if possible.

Is it possible to have the double thumb lugs done without refinish the scales? I really like the well used patina of my original scales.

Also, if while at CRK for the thumb lugs and the blade cracked, will CRK replace it with a new blade of the same style (under warranty)? I don't want to risk it as I really like the profile of this small regular with a the swedge on it. As I understand it, you can't just buy one from CRK anymore.

I will definitely keep the original scales as they are.

Barry H, I love all of the scales you did on the Sebenzas and some other. I went through most of your album pictures and saved a few. Thank you.

Thanks and appreciated,

Sonny
Click to expand...
 
Two pics from my phone below. You can see the relief cut for the lockbar pretty clearly. You can also see why although all three of my small Sebs have been DL'd after they were first shipped by CRK, I've sort of come to the conclusion that on the small Seb a DL isn't a compelling ergonomic improvement. ;) YMMV, of course.

photo (2).jpgphoto (3).jpg
 
JNewell said:
Two pics from my phone below. You can see the relief cut for the lockbar pretty clearly. You can also see why although all three of my small Sebs have been DL'd after they were first shipped by CRK, I've sort of come to the conclusion that on the small Seb a DL isn't a compelling ergonomic improvement. ;) YMMV, of course.

View attachment 244266View attachment 244267
Click to expand...

JNewell,

Thank you for the pictures. I love the look of it. I will probably use the knife for a while before sending it in. I am currently not happy with the sharpness of the blade right now. I will do more search on this forum before asking more questions.
 
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